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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Anything missing from my 'essentials' list?

62 replies

PaddedRoomForOnePlease · 19/01/2017 15:22

We now have a tent and had a practice camp in September but I would like to get everything up together so we can use it lots this year. Are there any glaring omissions from this list?

tent
footprint
poles
pegs
mallets x2
peg remover
roof protector
carpets
repair kit

lantern
windup torch x4
head torch
room bulbs x4
fairy lights
glowsticks
spare batteries

tubs x2
bin & bags
broom
feather duster
pegs & line
dettol wipes
cloths
sponge
wash up liquid
tea towel x2
paper towel

chairs x2
kids chairs x2
table
stick tables x2
waterproof blanket

stove
fuel
lighter / matches
pans
tongs
spatula
knife
grater
opener
scissors
chopping board
oven gloves
cutlery
plates
bowls
beakers
thermal mugs
2L bottles x2
cool box
ice blocks

double mat
double bag
single mats x2
single bags x2
pillows x4

tubs x2
first aid
handwarmers
loo roll
tissues
baby wipes
sun lotion
aftersun
insect repellant
towels x4
toiletries

I haven't put clothes down as we just layer up but I've tried to think of everything else. I've got a little drawer unit from wilko for the cooking stuff, torches etc and a couple of hanging pouch things for shoes, coats and all that.

I haven't got all of these things yet but I'm off to the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show next month so might get some bits there. Just planning ahead so it can be all packed ready to sling in the car and go last minute should the weather be nice.

Oh, I forgot to say it's me, DH and two children aged 2.5 and 4.

OP posts:
BiddyPop · 20/03/2017 14:13

I use a small brush and pan for sweeping the inside of the tent.

As part of my cook kit, I have a stacking set of plastic bowls - the big one is useful for fruit/salad, washing up, throwing bits into as I prep meals (for binning later) etc. There is a medium one which can mostly do the same but has holes so can do colander duty, and there is a smaller one as well. Came from Aldi.

Another Scout leader in our group mentioned using blue Ikea bags as gear bags when car camping - much easier for smallies to find things than a duffel bag, and easy to throw into the car at the end. (One becomes the dirty laundry bag for packup, which goes straight to the washing machine when they get home).

Flask is a definite need in our case - whenever I boil a kettle, I put any leftover water into the flask to use later (washing up especially, but clean hands, cooking, quick cup of tea etc). And at night, fill it with tea going to bed for the first thing in the morning cup.

I got a couple of good, sharp kitchen knives, but with covers on them (to protect fingers!). I keep all my kitchen tools in an Ikea Samla carrybox, which fits into an 11l or 22l Samla box - this is my self-catering OR camping set. Mostly the same stuff - but SC need dishwasher tabs and washing powder tabs, whereas camping needs plenty of matches!

The kitchen tools are basically the cheap Ikea plastic set including a tongs, whisk, spatula etc; sharp knives; scissors; corkscrew; tin opener; wooden spoon; vegetable peeler; set of bamboo sticks (?? cannot remember the name of them, but to use as skewers on BBQs etc, bought in regular kitchen store). Along with that are a small roll of black sacks, handful of Ziploc bags for storing all sorts, couple of j-cloths, 100ml travel bottle (which I refill at home - from Muji) of washing up liquid, 3 tea towels, washup brush, 1 pot scrubber, a handful of clothes pegs, length of thin chord, 1 set silicon pot holders, 1 small packet of wipes, 1 kitchen roll and always 2 toilet rolls! Lots of matches, some wrapped fire lighters, spare bootlaces, spare batteries (for torches). And my salt and pepper and chilli mills (the type from the spices aisle that have the mill in the top of the jar), and a small bottle of olive oil, and some sachets (from McD's etc) of ketchup and (coffee shops) sugar. When we are preparing to go anywhere, I add a Ziploc bag of teabags, and another with any sachets I have of hot choc, coffee etc, or maybe some herbal tea (chamomile etc) if I think I need it.

I have a drawstring bag per person (the kind you might use for swimming gear) to hold wash kit, towel (microfiber), flip flops, spare carabiner and clean clothes - to easily trek to shower block, hang for use, and trek back without anything showing.

WelshMoth · 08/04/2017 08:20

Not sure where to buy it yet but I'm after a clear plastic hang-up shoe holder - the pockety type one so I can hang it up in tent. Maybe 2 - one for cooking area for cutlery, matches, packers etc.

WelshMoth · 08/04/2017 08:25

...and the other for inside to store the random stuff that always gets in the way.

SoulAccount · 08/04/2017 10:22

MrsHathaway, the foam mats under your blow-ups would also keep you much warmer.

Or the cheap foil-backed roll up mats from Decathlon.

OP: either way it is insulation from the cold of the ground that is needed. We can't fit camp beds in the car, we are fine on SIMS.

redjumper · 16/04/2017 16:31

I think your list is good, all the essentials and no fuss.

To add:
Door mat or old towel for entrance, the cardboard box idea sounds good.
Old towel for floor mopping in wet weather
Towels for the shower- cheapest Ikea ones are great as they are thin, light and dry quickly but they are more absorbent than microfiber.
Sharp chefs knife with plastic cover
Pack of cards
Wellies; ankle wellies even better
Bag for life for everyone, and one for shoes
Potti pottete is handy for little ones if you have one but I probably wouldn't buy it specially.
Lots of spare socks
Bottle opener
Food bags

Remove:
Grater? Buy grated cheese maybe. I say that because I've been carrying mine round for ages and never used it. (Same with my salad servers, what was I thinking there?)

FusionChefGeoff · 16/04/2017 20:53

We've just come back from our first very successful test camp - thanks to pp and everyone on this thread!

Only things I added to my list for next time and apologies if they were suggested and I missed it:

Definitely crocs - wellies are too tricky / take too long
Hand cream
Hang up shelves like this for kitchen stuff
www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/small-storage-organisers/clothes-organisers/pluring-hanging-storage-with-3-compartments-white-art-70242835/
More clothes pegs
Another table

The things that were absolutely essential:
1 big, 1 small really good thermos
Windbreak
The table we had (tiny stools that came with it, not so much)
Camping chairs
SIMS plus layers for night
LED lanterns x 3
Bag for life for shower room

Things I loved just because I felt smug and organised:
Hanging shoe storage like pp mentions above! From IKEA
Doormat
Plastic coffee percolator
Quechua self inflating cool box
Folding crate for kitchen stuff storage

I love it! I am looking forward to decades of family fun before DC get all grown up and too cool for camping.

WelshMoth · 17/04/2017 23:50

my kitchen box is too big and this year, I want to whittle it down to something manageable.

Please tell me your kitchen box and how you store it. This of course doesn't include the stove.

cece · 23/04/2017 11:05

Sharpie pen for labelling food in communal fridge.

KingLooieCatz · 24/04/2017 12:51

I swear I felt the dopamine hit when I saw this thread. I might be too excited to read it. I might have to print the whole thing. I love my lists and this is the mother of lists. Thank you people. Thank you so much.

PaddedRoomForOnePlease · 04/05/2017 21:45

I've just got this chair and I love it, tiny, lightweight, comfortable. I'm 5'1 but DH is 5'11 and it's comfy for him too.

I thought I'd just let you know in return for all your wonderful suggestions.

OP posts:
MarklahMarklah · 09/07/2017 11:21

Some great suggestions here, I'm going to check out if there's anything I need.

I am camping in a couple of weeks (festival) - no showers, and no electric hook-ups. Won't need to cook as there are catering vans (though we do take gas burner & kettle for cups of tea/porridge/soup/instant pasta).

For warmth last year we had an extra groundsheet and lined the tent floor with thermal insulation foil rolls (they packed up quite small). Made a huge difference.

If anyone has any suggestions of how to hang stuff up in a tent that has no exposed internal poles (nothing to run any ropes off inside either), I'd be grateful.

TheDuckSaysMoo · 02/09/2017 15:20

Those primark velvet leggings are awesome. They're ridiculously warm! Thank you!

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